Key dates
Trainee Associate Programme starting in February 2027 or February 2028
Application window: Now closed
Eligibility: Penultimate and final year undergraduate students from any degree discipline and graduates. You must be eligible to start your Trainee Associate Programme in either February 2027 or February 2028. Your intake will be allocated by the Early Careers Team based on your current academic status.
Putting you first
For prospective trainees from under-represented backgrounds, we offer additional mentoring and coaching as well as the opportunity for all future joiners to formally connect with others in our colleague networks.
Complete an application form and an 850-word personal statement.
What to include in your personal statement
About you: This is your chance to emphasise your strengths and highlight what makes you unique. Tell us about your university activities, hobbies, and work experience. Share your passions and demonstrate how your interests align with ours and our clients’. Avoid bullet-point CV extracts and support claims with evidence.
Why law?: You should have a good idea of why you want to work at Freshfields, so make this clear. Why does Freshfields appeal? Do you want to join an international firm? Have you heard good things about us from a trainee? Be specific. We already know the data from our website, so only talk about Freshfields if it genuinely supports a point you are making.
Top tips:
- Use your word limit effectively, avoiding repetition of personal information. Be simple, direct, and distinctive. Stay concise and maintain a professional tone. Structure your statement with essential points first and use paragraphs.
- Keep your sentences short. Long sentences can be difficult to follow. Tone is important. Do not be too informal or deferential. Your writing should reflect who you are.
- We read a lot of applications so avoid cliché. Do not talk about ‘honing’ your analytical skills or use common phrases such as ‘I enjoy being challenged’ or ‘I find the law interesting’. Avoid ‘relishing’ the chance to work on ‘innovative, high-profile deals'. Find meaningful words of your own.
- Errors diminish the quality of your application. Edit, seek feedback, and refine your statement before submitting.
We recruit up to 80 trainees per year across two intakes: Spring and Autumn.
